If this is true, then exactly what was the purpose of the NBA announcing the Maloof/Hansen agreement if they're (the Maloof's) not obligated to stick with it? And, PLEASE don't tell me they're still entitled to that non-refundable, multi-million dollar deposit from Hansen/Ballmer, even though they're apparently in the process of selling to local ownership, something they supposedly had no interest in, so we were led to believe. I'm starting to think it'd be best for Hansen/Ballmer to join forces with Don Levin and go headlong towards the Phoenix Coyotes instead. At least there's no David Stern or Maloof brothers to have to contend with there. Truth be told, like a lot of Sonic fans, I'd be kind of lukewarm towards to prospect of embracing a relocated franchise as the new Sonics. It just wouldn't be the same. No such qualms with a relocated NHL club, though. I wouldn't care if the absolute worst club in the entire league was up for grabs. If Levin/Hansen/Ballmer brought it to Seattle, I'd be all in with absolutely no thought whatsoever to ever seeing the NBA in this city again. There's just far too much bad blood spilled between the league, its' commissioner and the city in the last 6-7 years to the point where I don't think that their actions have been forgivable to the point where they can be trusted to do anything other than dangle that golden carrot...just like they still occasionally do to Vancouver. If the NHL is a more realistic probability, I hope all interested parties in Seattle concerned can and will get together to find a way to make it happen. Because if they don't, Quebec City most certainly will.

Hansen has made it very, very clear from day one that he is NOT interested in purchasing an NHL team. He wants and expects an NHL team to be a tenant in the arena, but he is ONLY interested in owning the Sonics. And a shovel will NOT be put in the ground for the new arena until Hansen has an NBA team. That is why Seattle will NOT have an NHL team until an NBA team is acquired.

That being said, it will likely not take long from the day Seattle officially has an NBA team coming until the day Seattle will officially have an NHL team coming.

But a Seattle NHL team will NOT be announced before a Seattle NBA team. You are not alone with this misunderstanding. There are a shocking number of sportswriters and professional commentators who don't seem to get it.

I'm actually very well aware of Hansen's NHL stance, but, if there's no teeth to Mayor Johnson's 11th hour stand, then why would the NBA elect to go through all the motions as if something was going to be accomplished in Sacramento when there's a sure thing warming up in the bullpen in Seattle? No one registered at this site knows for sure what's going to happen one way or the other. I merely raised the prospect of Levin entering the picture if things don't turn out the way Seattle's NBA investors want them to, especially since there doesn't seem to be another team other than Sacramento on its' death bed at the moment and there's no telling when there will be. And, anybody in Seattle hoping for an expansion team instead of a relocated one is dreaming. It was with all that in mind that I raised the NHL question, as it seems to be less of a hurdle than having to deal with the aforementioned characters involved with the NBA. The NHL may be inept, but, it isn't shady, unlike the NBA. IF the Sacramento bid falls through, do people in Seattle 9especially ones named Hansen and Ballmer) REALLY want to wait around for something else to fall into their lap when, by joining up with Levin, they can make something ELSE happen with the quickness? Contrary to what YOU think, I really don't believe I "misunderstood" anything about the situation at all. I merely raised the probability of turning to a more concrete Plan B if/when Plan A is taken off the board. I think you're being totally naive and somewhat arrogant if you really think the NBA is above any sort of Tom Foolery in regards to the Sacramento-to-Seattle situation.

A NHL tennannt alone will not provide the revenue required to make the new arena financially viable, where as the NBA as the only tennant would. Adding an NHL tennant after the arena is up would increase the arena's revenue.

Hanson main deal is getting a BB team here........Lets concentrate and put all of our efforts into that....Once you get a BB team then go after a hockey team.

Stay positive fans, it's a done deal. A lot of the specifics of the signed agreement cannot be discussed Owner NBA rules until the NBA BOG (board of governors) either approves or disproves the sale. I am no biz man or lawyer but I find it hard-very hard-to believe that Hansen paid 30mil to the Maloof's with their history of flip flopping; without having a clause in the purchase and sale that prohibits the Maloofs from negotiating with another potential buyer, local or not.

If it wasn't a done deal Hanson would never put up a 30M nonrefundable down payment.......We are getting the Kings I don't care what the Ice Princess (Johnson) says...Take it to the bank.

4 the Kings. A friend of a friend told me so.

I wouldn't hold my breath my Sacramento fan.

thats the question. Chris has a signed contract with 30 Mil in deposit. It is what it is. They will try there best to come up with all they want, it dose not matter. It over, all but the wait for League approval. The League dose not want to deal with the wave of hate that would come from breaking a valid contract over a group of people trying a long shot. We all went through it with all the investors trying to save our Sonics. Little to late and many days to short as it is in CA. Kevin failed at the numerous attempts. It over. Go Sonics!!!

Hawkman..Mr. Hansen has a SIGNED PURCHASE and Sales agreement.

Please just report the final decision once the trucks have pulled up to haul the Kings stuff northward.

Kevin Johnson just likes to talk- he is positioning himself for CA governor, he has to show his fighting spirit to CA voters! He knows it's a done deal- besides his so called investors are not solid, reason why they are trying to recruit Ellison! The mayor is just full of hot air, and it's ready to exhale anytime now!

Seattle would still have a team, right?

On both sides who don't know anything! It is not a done deal until it is a done deal! Both sides can point to a report that says the Sonics are reincarnated and Kings fans can point to a story that says they are staying. A 30 million dollar deposit is nothing to a league grossing over 4 or 5 billion a year! A possible clause providing a right of first refusal means nothing if those owners don't have the money to buy the team. At the end of the day the Commissioner and the NBA as a whole would not allow Sacramento to go through all this if it was a charade! They are clearly not a charitable/non-profit organization. If Sacramento's efforts didn't have teeth they would not be doing this! Business deals fall through everyday, companies go under as well and I am confident they all have smart people negotiating those deals as well! Does anyone remember billions of our tax dollars used to bail out "good companies with smart people" running them? The only difference in this deal is a successful hedge fund manager and CEO of a huge company are dealing with a collection of unsuccessful and lying bachelors who have screwed up every business venture they have been involved with! So any of us who says, "this is a done deal or they are coming back or they are staying" is simply fooling themselves and others. One thing is certain either the start of the 2013 season will have the Sacramento Kings or the Seatlle Sonics opening at home or on the road! And no one writing an article or reading one and putting their biased opinion in a comment really knows!

either get it done, or let it go.

this process is pretty lame.

also, i'm SURE this isn't the most popular article on MyNorthwest. the article about two ladies where were getting married AND were not sold a cake by a religous baker is STILL the most popular.

mynorthwest just doesn't want that article getting attention anymore. even though it's more interesting than "BREAKING NEWS!: sonics still not back yet and the mayor of a city still doesn't want his team to leave" cause we've never heard that story before.

OK MR.JOHNSON where are your so call investors at know it too late MR. JOHNSON. SEATTLE IS GOING HAVE YOUR TEAM. IT OVER